What Are the Risks of Abortion?

April 16, 2024

Abortion is a serious procedure that terminates a pregnancy, and it comes with potential risks to your health. If you’re considering an abortion, it’s critical to learn all you can to ensure you’re making an educated decision.

This article will outline the essentials you need to know about abortion risks as well as steps you can take to protect your health before making a pregnancy decision.

Risks of Abortion

There are two types of abortion: medical (also known as the “abortion pill”) and surgical. And each type of abortion carries unique risks.

Medical Abortion

A medical abortion consists of taking two powerful drugs that work together to terminate and expel a pregnancy from your uterus and out through your vagina.

After taking these drugs, you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. Some women have reported that the pain was unexpectedly severe.

You might also experience a risk, which is rare but can be life-threatening and includes:

• Incomplete abortion, which occurs when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

The abortion drugs are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is 10 weeks gestation or under, and if you attempt to take them when your pregnancy is further along, you’re more likely to experience a risk.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is performed in a clinical setting. The procedure involves dilating your cervix so that medical instruments (like scraping tools or strong suction) can enter the uterus to terminate and remove the pregnancy.

The main risks associated with surgical abortion include:

• Uterine perforation (this happens when one of the medial instruments pokes a hole in the uterus)
• Uterine scarring (this can cause painful periods or future infertility)
• Cervical damage
• Infection

How to Protect Your Health

Getting an ultrasound before making any pregnancy decision is the number one way to protect your health.

This simple scan will give you the key information you need to know about your pregnancy—such as the gestational age, location, and viability.

At First Choice Pregnancy Services, we offer free, limited ultrasounds and a Medical Consultation to give you the information you need to know the facts and make an informed decision.

You’re not alone in this. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.